Tinkle was hired a month ago from Montana. Thompson joins associate head coach Kerry Rupp and assistant Gregg Gottlieb on his staff.

It's believed Thompson should help the Beavers improve on defense.

This might not be the last hiring for the OSU basketball program. According to Oregon Live, Tinkle will add former Montana assistant Kurt Paulson as director of basketball operations, according to a source.

Thompson, 45,a four-year player at Syracuse. He spent the past nine seasons at CSLA, a Division II school. He went 126-120 and got his team to the D-II national tournament four times. He is from Los Angeles.

Tinkle mentioned recruiting in a statement released to announce Thompson's hiring. With his connections, Thompson could help the Beavers draw talent from the massive LA pool.

Stephen Thompson Jr. is a shooting guard, a four-star prospect ranked No. 70 among recruits by Rivals. Tinkle's son, Tres, also is a four-star prospect.